Finishing this sentence

…those seeking the Presidency would discuss critical issues facing the American people, instead of so many side issues

…European political leaders would finally and fully address the Continent’s sovereign debt challenges

…we weren’t running a federal budget deficit this year of $160 million every 60 minutes

…men and women were from the same planet

…we actually got serious about U.S. energy independence with a program geared to 1) conservation, 2) alternative sources of energy, 3) access to much more oil and natural gas in Alaska and on the Continental Shelf, and 4) developing massive deposits of oil shale and shale gas across the nation

…Wall Street “high rollers” had greater legal and financial accountability for the financial market abuses of recent years

…the Congress and the Administration would get serious about reining in the growth rate of entitlement programs in coming years (Note: In regard to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, we do not have to cut spending – we have to slow down the growth rate of future spending.)

…we would hear more about solid Mexican economic growth instead of just cartel violence

…Johnny Carson was still king of late-night television

…our 401(k) balances would continue to rebound nicely in coming years

…our kids spent more time playing outside instead of being online inside

…the game of politics in Washington D.C. involved a little more cooperation and a little less confrontation

The Tea Leaf is a weekly economic and financial update by Jeff Thredgold, economist for Vectra Bank Colorado. He has been writing an economic update every week for the past 31 years and is the only economist in the world to have received the designation of CSP, or Certified Speaking Professional. Republished with permission from the Tea Leaf by Jeff Thredgold, whose site address is www.thredgold.com/html/leaf.html.

There are a number of wild cards that could drastically alter these predictions, but 2017 is going to be full of volatility (look at the wild swings in treasuries and stocks already) that will no doubt impact Colorado real estate.

I’m not really a pickup truck enthusiast, but I really enjoyed the three weeks I spent driving these three great pickup trucks, if for no other reason that I could experience how the other half lives – and I do mean half.